Block Party Pillow

A border of miniature quilt blocks frames a stunning embroidery design in this pillow. Various fabrics in several prints and colors add depth and texture; a colored denim frame pulls the pillow together.

Supplies & Materials:

Project Materials

- 18" pillow form
- 5/8 yard colored denim
- 1/2 yard faux suede
- Twenty small pieces of a variety of fabrics (velvet, flannel, quilter's cotton, satin, etc)
- Medium-weight (2.5 ounce) cutaway stabilizer
- Temporary spray adhesive (like Gunold KK100)
- Air-erase pen for marking
- Rotary cutter and cutting mat

The designs used in this tutorial include:

- L6244, Scandinavian Christmas Star
- M15611, Autumn Quilting Pumpkins (Double Run)

Gather Materials:

Prepare the fabric for the center embroidered block.

Using an air-erase pen, draw a 10"x 10" square on the faux suede. Mark the center point.

A hand holds a marker and measures a line with a 12-inch wooden ruler on white fabric. Four squares are outlined in purple ink on the fabric.

Print a template of the design from embroidery software.

If you do not have embroidery software that makes templates, we recommend Wilcom's Hatch software which comes in different levels depending on what you'd like to use the software for. Hatch Organizer works well to view your designs, print dielines and templates, change design colors, and create basic design layouts. (This is an affiliate link. We may earn commission on purchases made with this link.)

Align the center point of the template with the center point on the fabric. There should be at least one inch of space in between the outer edges of the design and the edges of the shape.

White fabric square with green embroidery of two birds facing each other inside a star shape, decorated with leaves, a bell, and a Christmas tree.

Spray a piece of medium-weight cutaway stabilizer with temporary adhesive and smooth the fabric on top.

Hoop the fabric and stabilizer together, aligning the marks on the hoop with the lines on the fabric.

Embroidery hoop with white fabric stretched inside, purple grid lines drawn on fabric, placed on wooden surface.

For a quilted embroidery design, spray and add a piece of high loft batting between the fabric and stabilizer before hooping and embroidering the design.

This will enhance the quilted look of this pillow and allow the batting to puff the fabric up between the embroidered stitches.

Embroidery hoop with white fabric stretched inside, marked with purple grid lines and rectangle outlines, placed on a wooden surface.

Start Embroidering:

Load the design to the machine and move the hoop so the needle is right over the center point.

Embroider the design.

Embroidery machine stitching a red floral and bird design on white fabric, framed and marked with purple grid lines for alignment.

When the design has finished, trim away the excess stabilizer on the backside of the embroidery and then cut out the square shape.

White fabric square with red machine embroidery of a star-shaped design featuring birds, a tree, hearts, and decorative leaves, placed on a wooden surface next to scissors.

Prepare the small blocks -- these will border the faux suede.

Using a rotary cutter and cutting mat, cut twenty 3" x 3" blocks from the small pieces of fabric.

I am using a variety of colors and textures: flannel, satin, velvet, and quilter's cotton.

Four fabric squares in green, red, white with multicolored dots, and green with candy canes, on a green cutting mat. A blue rotary cutter is also visible.

Prepare the top and bottom borders by assembling four blocks together (for each border).

Lay one block flat and align another block on top, right sides together.

Pin in place along one side and sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge only.

Press the back seam with an iron, using a pressing cloth on top for fabrics like satin or velvet to prevent scorching or melting.

Hand holding folded green fabric pinned with straight pins over white fabric with red, yellow, green, and blue polka dots on a light wood surface.

Lay the assembled blocks flat and align a third block on top of the second block, right sides together.

Pin in place along one side and sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edge only.

Press the seam, using a pressing cloth to prevent scorching.

Hand holding layered fabric pieces: red, white with colorful polka dots, and green on a light wood surface.

Add a fourth block just as you did for the previous blocks.

Repeat these steps to create a second border.

A hand lifts a green fabric strip with candy cane and snowflake prints, connected to solid red, polka dot, and solid green rectangular fabric pieces on a light wood surface.

Align the assembled top and bottom borders along the top and bottom edges of the center block, right sides together.

Pin in place, and sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edges.

Press the seam, using a pressing cloth to prevent scorching.

Close-up of a white fabric square with red embroidery of two birds, leaves, and a bee in a star shape. It is bordered by small green, red, striped, and polka-dotted fabric squares pinned together on a wooden surface.

Prepare the side borders just as you did for the top and bottom borders, but this time use six blocks for each border.

Then align the side borders with the side edges of the center block/top and bottom border piece, right sides together.

Pin in place, and sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edges.

Press the seam, using a pressing cloth to prevent scorching.

Partially sewn quilt block on a wooden surface with a central white fabric piece embroidered in red with birds, trees, and floral motifs, surrounded by fabric squares in red, green, striped, and polka dot patterns. Pins hold the pieces in place.

Prepare the top and bottom outer borders by cutting the colored denim to 14 1/2" x 2 3/4".

Align the cut denim pieces on top of the assembled piece, right sides together.

Pin in place, and sew a 1/4" seam along the pinned edges.

Press the seam, using a pressing cloth to prevent scorching.ressing cloth to prevent scorching.

Square fabric piece with a central white square featuring a red star with bird and floral embroidery, framed by green, red, striped, and polka dot fabric strips pinned on wood surface.

For the side outer borders, cut two pieces of fabric to 2 3/4" x 19".

Align them with the side edges of the assembled piece, right sides together.

Pin in place, sew a 1/4" seam.

Press the seam, using a pressing cloth to prevent scorching.

Sewing project with green fabric being pinned around a white square featuring a red embroidered star with floral and bird patterns, bordered by red and multicolored polka dot fabric.

To add the inner lining, lay the assembled front panel on top of another piece of colored denim, wrong sides together.

Pin in place, and cut around the shape of the front panel.

Sew a 1/4" seam along the entire outer edges of the fabric.

Close-up of a hand lifting green fabric layered over a quilt block with red star embroidery and patchwork of green, red, and polka dot fabrics.

To prepare the back of the pillow, cut two pieces of cotton fabric to 13" x 19".

On both pieces, fold one of the long edges over 1/2" to the wrong side and press.

Fold the fabric over 1/2" again and press.

Sew a seam along the folded edges.

Lay the front panel flat with the right side facing up.

Align the back pieces on top, right sides together, with the folded edges facing inwards and with the back pieces overlapping.

Align the outer edges of the back pieces with the outer edges of the front piece.

Pin in place and sew a 1/2" seam along the entire outer edge of the fabric.

Bright green fabric pinned with multicolored sewing pins along edges, partially folded back to show a white and colorful patterned fabric underneath on a wooden surface.

To finish, turn the fabric right side out and insert the pillow form in between the layers of the back pieces.

Close-up of a hand holding a white pillow partially covered by a bright green fabric, likely a pillowcase, on a light wooden surface.

Get Inspired:

This Christmas block party pillow is a stunning way to showcase your favorite embroidery.

Adapt it for other seasons by changing out the colors and patterns of the fabric, as well as the embroidery design.

Square pillow with embroidered pumpkin and swirling leaves in center panel, bordered by patchwork squares in autumn colors like orange, red, and yellow. Two small pumpkins beside the pillow.

You can turn this fun pillow pattern into a simple tote by tracing the dimensions of the front piece on a second piece of fabric to make a back piece, and using your preferred method to add straps. That’s how we made this cute and festive Fourth of July tote!